2020 Ford Escape vs 2021 Volvo XC90

The 2020 Ford Escape was a very attractive compact crossover, sharing its large grille with the outgoing Fiesta and Focus hatchbacks. The headlights were inspired by the Ford GT supercar. The previous Escape had a more upright rear end, but the new curvaceous design came at a cost. Despite this, the Escape remained one of the best-looking small SUVs on the market, perhaps only behind the Mazda CX-5 and Jeep Cherokee. Inside, the Escape featured a modern cabin with a fully digital instrument panel, floating infotainment screen, and an overall smooth design. The base S trim came with 17-inch steel wheels, a 4.2-inch instrument-panel screen, and Sync infotainment. Higher trims like the SE added features such as automatic climate control, heated front seats, and a 10-way power driver's seat. The range-topping Titanium trim boasted unique 19-inch wheels, a dual-panel moonroof, and a premium B&O audio system.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 successfully reshaped Volvo's image through design while maintaining its traditional styling features. The XC90 had a boxy profile and a blunt front end with a rectangular grille, but with softer lines and more chrome. The LED headlights with “Thor’s Hammer” daytime running lights were a distinctive touch. The Inscription trim was the flashiest, with extra chrome trim and optional 21-inch alloy wheels. Inside, the XC90 embraced Swedish minimalism with thoughtfully arranged materials and matte-finish wood trim. The interior offered a wool upholstery option and an Orrefors crystal shifter. The XC90 was available in six-seat or seven-seat configurations, with headroom and legroom being about average for the segment. The range-topping Inscription trim featured 10-way power-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats with backrest massage.

The 2020 Ford Escape offered four engine options, including a new 3-cylinder engine making 180 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque, standard in the S, SE, and SEL trims. The 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, available on the SEL and standard on the Titanium, produced 250 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque. The 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine was part of the hybrid drivetrain, making 198 horsepower. There was also a plug-in hybrid variant. The conventional engines used an 8-speed automatic transmission, while the hybrids used a CVT. The Escape's most efficient version was the non-Sport hybrid, returning 44 mpg city, 37 highway, and 41 combined. The 2.0-liter turbo with AWD on the test model returned 23/31/26. The Escape had direct and taut steering, strong brakes, and an athletic feel, making it a rewarding drive.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 had three powertrains built around a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The base T5 engine was turbocharged, producing 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The T6 engine was both turbocharged and supercharged, upping output to 316 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. The T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid powertrain combined the T6 engine with electric assist, producing 400 horsepower and 472 pound-feet of torque. The T5 came standard with FWD, while AWD was optional on the T5 and standard on the T6 and T8. The XC90 offered three drive modes—Pure (all-electric), Hybrid, and Power. The XC90 excelled at old-school luxury with excellent ride quality and a quiet cabin. Most XC90 models had a 5,000-pound maximum towing capacity, with the base FWD T5 rated at 4,000 pounds.

The 2020 Ford Escape had a sleeker design than its predecessor, resulting in less cargo space. It offered 37.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row, dropping to 34.4 cubic feet in hybrid models. With the backseat folded, it provided 65.4 cubic feet or 60.8 cubic feet in upper-level trims. The Escape emphasized passenger space, with plenty of headroom and legroom for second-row passengers. The front seats provided good visibility and a commanding seating position. The Escape also had multiple storage solutions, including deep water-bottle holders and various trays and compartments.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 was available in six-seat or seven-seat configurations. Headroom and legroom in all three rows were about average for the segment, with the third row being a bit tight for adults. The XC90 featured a power moonroof extending across the first two rows, giving the interior a spacious feel. The range-topping Inscription trim had 10-way power-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats with backrest massage. Cargo space for the T8 Recharge model was 11.2 cubic feet with all seats in place, 34.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, and 64.1 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded. The XC90 also offered a hands-free power tailgate.

The 2020 Ford Escape's base trim had a small 4.2-inch audio control screen, while the SE trim upgraded to an 8-inch Sync screen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The Titanium trim featured a head-up display (HUD) with a small flip-up screen. The latest version of Sync allowed for multi-tasking, enabling the use of different apps on the phone while projecting on the car’s display. The HUD, however, was less effective for taller drivers, as it often fell below their line of sight.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 came standard with a 9-inch touchscreen, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility, Bluetooth, and a built-in WiFi hotspot. It also had two front USB-A ports and two rear USB-C ports. A 19-speaker Bowers & Wilkins premium audio system and a head-up display (HUD) were available. The portrait-oriented touchscreen was easy to use, allowing swiping across menus like a tablet. However, the amount of text and typeface made reading some menus difficult while driving. The wireless charging pad added for 2021 was too small for most phones, and the second-row USB-C ports might not be convenient for drivers with newer phones.

The 2020 Ford Escape came with a full array of front- and side-impact airbags, a reversing camera, traction control, and a tire-pressure-monitoring system (TPMS). It earned the best overall score of Good from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) in all phases of testing. The Escape also came standard with Ford Co-Pilot360, a suite of advanced safety systems including forward-collision warning, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. It also included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a driver drowsiness monitor.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 received the highest “Top Safety Pick+” rating from the IIHS for non-hybrid models. It earned top “Good” scores in all IIHS crash tests and a “Superior” rating for front-crash prevention tech in vehicle-to-vehicle testing. The NHTSA gave all 2021 XC90 models a five-star overall safety rating. The XC90 offered more standard safety features than most competitors, including lane-keep assist, a driver-attention monitor, traffic-sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic emergency braking, and Volvo’s Pilot Assist driver aid. Pilot Assist combined adaptive cruise control with automated lane centering, providing smooth and quick reactions to other vehicles.